Shoe-lace clasp or fastener.



- HMAHKIEWISL SHOE lLACE CLASP` 0R FASTENER. APPLICATION FILED Ames. 191e.

Patented Dec. 12, 1.916.

mmm/frs v TAT@ FAiFlWlU @E HARRY MARKIEWISE, 0F PARK RIDGE, NEW JERSEY.

SHOE-LACE CLASP OR FASTENER.

Application filed April 28, 1916.

To all fau/wm t may concern.'

Be Ait known that I, HnnnY MAnniEwisn,

citizen of the United States, and a resident of Park Ridge, in the county of Bergen and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and Improved Shoe-Lace Clasp or Fastener, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to clasps or fasteners especially adapted for holding the ends of a shoe lac-ing without the necessity of tying the ends into a'bow or knot.

The invention has for its general objects to impro-ve the construction of clasps of the character referred to so as to be reliable and eiiicient in use, comparatively7 inexpensive to manufacture, and so designed that it can be easily and quickly applied to or removed from the shoe lacing, and it is to be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited to the use for lacings on shoes.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision of a clasp, the body of which is in the form of a box open at opposite sides for the passage of the lace ends therethrough, and within the boX is a simple, novel and effective gripping means for gripping the ends of the lacing while slidable on such ends in one direction but locked against sliding in the opposite direction, the boX or casing being fo-rmed with a hinged lid which is adapted to be opened to apply the device to or remove it from the lacing, and the lid may be suitably ornamented or of such shape as to be of attractive appearance.

With such objects in view, and others which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention comprises various novel features of construction and arrangement of parts which will be set forth With particularity in the following description andclaims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates certain embodiments of the invention and wherein similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device applied to a shoe; Fig. 2 is an enlarged view showing the clasp or fastener open; Fig. 3 is a side view of the clasp closed; Fig. l is a detail sectional view on the line i-Jr, Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a view of a modified form of clasp in open position; Fig. 6 is a detail sectional View on the line Specification of 4Letters Patent.

,holds the free end of the lace.

Patented Dec. 12, 19105.

Serial No. 94,149.

6 6, Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a view of another forni of clasp in open position; Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view on the line 8-8, Fig. 7 and Fig. 9 is an end view of the clasp ,shown in Fig. 7.

Referring to the drawing, 1 designates an ordinary shoe closed by a lacing 2, the ends 3 of which are held by a clasp or fastener l that obviates the necessity of tying the lacing ends.

The clasp is a box-like structure open at opposite sides and comprises a body formed with a back or bottom 5 and end walls 6 and 7, `one of which is hingedly connected at 8, the top or front 9 being in the form of a cover that is held' closed by a catch lug 10 engaging a projection 11. The opposite walls 7 and 8 form fixed jaws with which coperate movable formed by the free ends 6 and 7 of a bowed spring 12 positioned within the body of the clasp. This spring l2 may be fastened in place by being soldered to a post 13 punched up out of the bottom or back 5, or a post 13 may be riveted to the body of the clasp and formed with a vertical slot 14 to receive the spring 12. In this case the spring may have a frictional grip in the post. Furthermore, the spring may be held in place by means of a tongue or lug 13a pressed upwardly out of the body, as shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, the free extremity of the lug being bent backwardly over the middle of the s ring, which is reduced in height to ena le a shorter lug 13a to be employed.

In using the device, the cover of the clasp is thrown open and the free ends of the lacing are forced between the sets of jaws 6, 7 and 6, 7, and then the cover of the clasp is closed and the latter pushed downwardly by one hand while the other hand The clasp will slide on the lace until the latter is fully tightened, and when once tightened it cannot loosen, because the sharp free edges lof the movable jaws bite into the lacing without, however', cutting the fabric.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the advantages of the construction and method of operation will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, and while l have described the principle of operation, to-

gether with the device which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the device shown is merely illustrative and that such changes may be made when desired as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

l. A clasp comprising a box-like element open at opposite sides and comprising a body and a hinged cover, opposite walls of the body forming fixedv jaws, a bowed spring having its free ends terminating at the said walls and forming movable jaws, and means for centrally fastening the spring in the body.

2. A clasp comprising a body open at two sides and having oppositely disposed walls forming Xed jaws, a spring device having free extremities forming movable jaws assooiated with the fixed jaws, and a post in the Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the said body and to which the spring device is rigidly fastened.

3. A clasp comprising a body open at opposite sides and formed with a bottom and opposite walls, said bottom having a lug stamped therefrom and extending into the body, a cover hingedly mounted on the body, and a bowed spring fastened to the said lug and having its free ends adjacent the said walls to form means for gripping the ends of a lacing. y

4. A clasp comprising a body having two spaced walls, and the bottom of the body being formed with an integral lug extending into the body, a spring disposed in the body and over which the free end of the lug is bent to rigidly fasten the spring in place, the free ends of the spring being in coperative relation with the said walls to form lace-gripping jaws.

HARRY MARKIEWISE.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

